Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-01-19
CONGRESSIONAL.
The Backbone Railroad Land Grant
Forfeiture Bill is Amended and
Passed by the Senate.
The Conference Report on the Interstate
Commerce Bill Considered by the
House Yesterday.
KILN CONGRESS.
THE SENATE.

WASHINGTON, Jan. IS. Mr.. Hsw-
lev from the committee on the centennial
celebration of the adoption of the con-
stitution reported joint resolution pro-
yiding the appointment of joint CON-
mittee of five senators and representa-
tiyes to consider the eXpediency of hold
ing in 1892 an international exhibition of
the industries and productions of all
countries. Passed.
Mr.. Bowen, from the. committee on In
dian fairs, reported the bill to refer to
the court of claims the claims of the
Eastern and Western bands of Cherokee
Indians. Placed on the calendar,
Mr.. German offered preamble and
resolution, whose terms are very similar
to those of the bill offered yesterday in
the house by MIR. Belmont of New York.
1t authorizes the president to prohibit the
transit through the United States or terri
torial waters of any engines, cars, vessels
or goods proceeding from Canada.
The senate then took up the house bill
to declare the forfeiture Of lanes granted
to the New Orleans, Baton Rouge. and
Vicksburg Railroad Company The Back.
bone), the forfeiture TIC apply to the lands
east of the Mississippi, and to confirm
Liz NEW OIltdIS L hlIllOhu COlu-
pany (the assignee of the other company,
the granted lands not forfeited. Mr..
Eustis supports the first proposition, but
opposed the second, and offered substi-
tute for the whole bill. The substitute
declares forfeited all lands originally
granted with q proviso confirming the
titles acquired by purchasers from any
railroad company by any bona tide set
Tiers.
Mr.. Gibson offered an amendment to
the original bill protecting the rights of
settlers, and argued against the substi-
t&de offered by his colleague.
Mr.. Eustis advocated his substitute,
and spoke of the time when the over
shadowing influence and power of cor
Dorate bodies over legislation would be
checked, subjected aud destroyed. The
conditions of the grant as to the time
when the railroad should be completed
had not been complied with, and there
fore the grant ceased to operate.
Mr.. Edmunds argued agaiDS. the bill.
He characterized the purchase of the
grant from the "Backbone Railroad" as
one of the most audacious deals ever
practiced in the United States, and that
was saying good deal.
The amendment offered by Mr.. Gibson
was agreed to without division. The
question then arose on the substitute Of
tered by Mr.. Eustis, aud It was It jected;
yeas IL, nays So The bill as amended
was then passed without division.
Adjourned.
THE HOUSE.
WASHINGTON, Jan. lS.-Mr. Skinner OF
North Carolina submitted the conference
report upon the bill for the allotment of
lands in severalty to the Indians. LAID
over for the present.
AtI2:45 the house in the morning hour
resumed consideration of the joint reso-
luton for sn Investigation of the &C
counts of the Pacific Railroads. After
short but spirited debate in which Mr..
Hoyden of Massachusetts, though in the
name of Adams, counting the proposed
inquiry, declared that this Investigation
resolution had been originated for stock
iobbing purposes and to accomplish the
defeat of the fupdirg bill. The Joint
resolutions passed without division.
Mr.. Lowering of Massachusetts, from
the committee on invalid pensions, re-
ported bill increasing from So TO 500
the pension of soldiers and sailors who
have lost both arms. Referred to the
committee of the whole.
MI. DsIlilOuL VI NC" OlhI ilOiu 1llC
committee on foreign affairs, reported g
bill for the appointment of commission
to investigate concerning losses and in
iurfes inflicted since December 81, 1885,
upon Uni ed States citizens engaged
in the Northern Atlantic fisheries. Re-
ferred to the committee of the whole.
The house then resumed consideration
of the Joint resolution authorizing the in
vestigation of accounts OF the Pacific Rail
road.
Mr.. Crisp of Georgia offered an amend
ment directing an inquiry into the
characters and amount of assets of such
of the companies as have received aid
from the government in bonds, and what
the assets of each company are now sub
iect to lien of the government, and the
value thereof
Mr.. Anderson of Kansas offered an
amendment directing an inquiry as to
whether any dividends had been unlaw-
fully paid on stocks of said companies,
and whether any new stock had been is
sued or any guarantees or pledges made
without authority of law. The commits
sion was also directed to investigate all
facts relating TO the pretended consolida-
ton of the Union Pacific Railway Com
parry, Kansas Pacific Railway Company
and Denver PACIFIC Railway Company
into an alleged corporation known as the
Union Pacific Railway Company.
Mr.. Holman of Indiana offered an
amendment directing the commission to
inquire whether the Pacific Railway cor
porations which have obtained bonds
from the United States have expended
any of their money or other assets in con-
struction of other railroads or invested
any of their monies or assets in stocks or
bonds of other railroad corporations, and
II any such expenditures or investments
have been made the extent and character
thereof made by any Of said corporations